"To Dallas, Lana, and everyone who makes Tradewinds
such a wonderful place to bead:
I just wanted to take a minute to tell you how much I have always enjoyed classes at Tradewinds. I work two blocks from the Bead Museum in Glendale and spend a lot of time there. However, when I ask my friends which teachers" classes they"d recommend, I always receive lukewarm answers. When I follow up with, "Well, Tradewinds has some interesting classes scheduled - who would you recommend there?" The answer is invariably, "You"ll enjoy any class you take at Tradewinds - all of their teachers are excellent."
Lana May"s "Lilac Mist" class was no exception.Tubular netting is a technique that I"ve been meaning to spend some time with and I"m quite pleased with not only my class samples, but also Lana"s suggestions for variations on the technique. I especially liked how much attention Lana paid to each and every student"s work. She was never satisfied with, "Oh, I think I"ve got it." She always asked us "Show me, please." I hope you will continue to schedule her classes regularly.
You might want to consider revising the course description for this class, though. It would have been very helpful to know that the primary techniques we would use were peyote stitch and tubular netting. Lana explained in class that she is just learning our names for these techniques. But, as she learns them, you might want to update the course description. On your website, this was listed as a beginning class. In a beginning class, I would have expected a lot more instruction on the basic stitches than we received. Instead, we concentrated on applying these techniques to the project at hand. Also, I found the color pattern for the tubular netting quite challenging. I think if I was a beginning beader, I would have been quite discouraged in this class. Fortunately, I think we were all experienced and it wasn"t an issue, but you might want to consider this for the future.
Overall, I found the class to be challenging and rewarding. I love the embellishment on the edges of the peyote leaf, and the elegant spiral pattern in the tubular netting. Lana"s handout was very easy to follow and she was always eager to answer our questions and offer suggestions. I am looking forward to completing the project.
Thank you all for creating such a warm and inviting atmosphere for beading. Dallas, I especially appreciated your critique of my loomed pendants
yesterday. Your suggestion of adding quartz chips was excellent. It added interest to the loom work without detracting from the focal bead. I will try to bring
the finished piece by the store before I give it to the friend I created it for this week. Lana, I will of course send photos of my completed work to you for
your website.
With sincere thanks and appreciation,
Holly Matherly"

----- Original Message -----
From: cvollemaere
To: lanamay@land.ru
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2004 5:30 AM
Subject: bead class
Hi Lana,
I enjoyed your bead class at Tradewind Gallery last Saturday. (I"m the one with light and dark turquoise and red seed beads). So far, I have completed about 12 inches of the strap and I am coming up with a new idea for my center idea. I will send you a picture when it is complete. However, it may take awhile as I work full-time.
Let me know what other classes you will be teaching.
Cheryl Vollemaere
Phoenix, AZ